Dependent payment device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides embodiments of a dependent payment device, such as a credit card, for allowing a primary customer to control and monitor the transactions made by a dependent customer who is authorized to use the account of the primary customer. The primary customer can control the maximum limit that the dependent customer can spend on the dependent card up to the maximum amount that the financial institution has approved for the primary customer. The primary customer can also block/approve purchases that the dependent customer can make at store or on products by adding MCCs, store names, store types, UPCs, or other product or store identifiers to a list of blocked/approved transactions. The primary customer can set monetary and time limits on the amount and frequency of the transactions the dependent customer can make at stores or on products that have been blocked/approved.

FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of payment devices, andmore particularly embodiments of the invention relate to apparatuses andmethods for a dependent payment device, such as a credit card, whichprovides credit privileges to dependent users and flexible controlmechanisms over the use of the dependent payment device to the accountholder.

BACKGROUND

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009(Credit Card Act of 2009) is a federal law passed by the United StatesCongress and signed by the President on May 22, 2009. Congress describesthe Credit Card Act of 2009 as comprehensive credit card reformlegislation for establishing fair and transparent practices relating tothe extension of credit. The Credit Card Act of 2009, among many othervarious impacts, limits access to cards for people of certain ages, andallows cardholders to set limits on credit cards. The Credit Card Act of2009 makes it more difficult for people with poor or no credit historyto obtain a credit card. Notwithstanding the Credit Card Act of 2009, intimes of economic recession or depression, it may also be increasinglydifficult for people with poor or no credit history to be approved for acredit card because some financial institutions become more risk adverseduring these times, and thus may limit the amount of credit that theyextend to customers. Furthermore, credit card customers are typicallyaverse to acting as co-signers for people with poor or no credit historybecause they do not want to be liable for any debt that other people onthe card might accrue. Thus, there is a need to develop apparatuses andmethods that help businesses provide credit options to consumers who arerestricted by the Credit Card Act of 2009 and/or consumers with poor orno credit history, as well as helping customers limit the debt that anyconsumers authorized to use the credit card account of the customers canaccrue.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention address the above needs and/orachieve other advantages by providing apparatuses (e.g., a system,computer program product, and/or other device) and methods that help adependent customer receive credit from a financial institution, and/orhelp a primary customer control the purchases made by the dependentcustomer.

Embodiments of the dependent credit system allow a primary customer toopen a dependent credit account, such as, but not limited to a dependentcredit card account, in order to control and monitor the transactionsmade by a dependent customer that is authorized to use the dependentcredit account of the primary customer. In some embodiments other typesof accounts can be used, such as debit accounts, in which casereferences to dependent credit accounts, systems, cards, etc. would bereplaced by the other types of accounts, such as dependent debitaccounts, systems, cards, etc. In some embodiments, the primary customercan set the maximum limit that the dependent customer can spend on thepayment device up to the maximum amount that the financial institutionhas approved for the account. In some embodiments, the primary customercan also limit the transactions that the dependent customer can make ata store (i.e. a physical store location, over the Internet, over thetelephone with a representative, etc.) or on goods or services(hereinafter “products”). In some embodiments the store includesspecific stores, such as, but not limited to chain stores or individualstores, or in other embodiments store includes types of stores that aregrouped together in various categories. A store can be grouped in morethan one category, for example a one stop store that sells a range ofproducts can be grouped as both a grocery store and an electronicsstore. In some embodiments the product includes specific products orlines of products, such as, but not limited to a product sold by aparticular merchant, or in other embodiments product includes types ofproducts that are grouped together in various categories. A product canbe grouped into more than one category, for example, a specific beer canbe grouped into a category with other beers and also be grouped into analcoholic beverages category that includes beer, wine, and liquor.

The primary customer can limit the transactions that the dependentcustomer can make by, for example, adding Merchant Category Codes(MCCs), store names, store types, Universal Product Codes (UPCs), StockKeeping Unit, product names, product types, and/or like identifiers to ablocked list or an approved list of stores or products. In someembodiments, the primary customer can set both monetary limits and timelimits on the transactions the dependent customer can make at theblocked/approved types of stores or on the blocked/approved productsthat the primary customer added to the blocked/approved list.Furthermore, the primary customer can periodically edit the stores orthe products on the blocked/approved list, as well as the monetary andtime limits on the stores or products in order to control thetransactions made by the dependent customer as the needs of thedependent customer change. In some embodiments, both the primarycustomer and dependent customer can view the transactions made throughthe account by logging into an online banking account. The dependentcustomer is prevented from having the ability to access the sections ofthe dependent credit account related to the limits set by the primarycustomer, which control the transactions the dependent customer isallowed to make.

In some embodiments, as explained herein the dependent payment device isa dependent credit card. However, it is to be understood that thedependent payment device can be another type of credit device, which canbe scanned, transmit a wireless signal, entered manually into a system,etc. in order to make payments using the dependent payment device, aswill be described in further detail later. For example, in someembodiments of the invention the dependent credit card may not be a cardat all, it may be a mobile device or other electronic device that allowsthe user 9 to make a purchase at a store or over the internet bytransmitting through a wire or wireless connection between theelectronic device and the systems used to make the transaction.

One embodiment of the invention is a dependent financial transactionsystem, comprising a memory device, a communication device, and aprocessing device is operatively coupled to the memory device and thecommunication device. The processing device is configured to executecomputer-readable program code to receive, through the communicationdevice, a request from a primary customer to set one or more limits on astore or a product, in order to control transactions a dependentcustomer is permitted to make using a dependent payment device at thestore or for the product. The processing device is further configured tosave the one or more limits on the store or the product received fromthe primary customer in the memory device. The processing device is alsoconfigured to receive, through the communication device, a request froma merchant to allow the dependent customer to make a transaction usingthe dependent payment device. The processing device is furtherconfigured to compare the transaction against the one or more limitsstored in the memory device. The processing device is also configured toapprove or deny the transaction the dependent customer is trying to makebased on the comparison of the transaction against the one or morelimits stored in the memory device.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the processingdevice is further configured to receive an application for the dependentpayment device from the primary customer listing a person as thedependent customer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limits comprisea transaction prevention limit that controls the transactions made bythe dependent customer by preventing the dependent customer from makingtransactions at the store or for the product.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise a transaction allowance limit that controls the transactionsmade by the dependent customer by allowing the dependent customer tomake transactions at the store or for the product.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise a monetary limit on an amount the dependent customer can spendat the store or for the product.

In further accord with another embodiment of the invention, the one ormore limits comprise a time limit on the transaction the dependentcustomer can make at the store or for the product.

In another embodiment of the invention, the processing device is furtherconfigured to receive a request, through the communication device, froma merchant to allow the primary customer to make a second transactionusing the dependent payment device and allow the primary customer tomake the second transaction regardless if the second transaction meetsor does not meet the one or more limits set on the store or the product.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the processing device isfurther configured to receive a request, through the communicationdevice, from the dependent customer to view transaction history andallow the dependent customer to view the transaction history in atransaction history interface.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the processing device isfurther configured to receive a request, through the communicationdevice, from the dependent customer to view the one or more limits onthe store or the product and allow the dependent customer to view theone or more limits on the store or the product in a limit interface.

In further accord with another embodiment of the invention, theprocessing device is further configured to receive a request, throughthe communication device, from the primary customer to view transactionhistory and allow the primary customer to view the transaction historyin a transaction history interface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the processing device is furtherconfigured to receive a request, through the communication device, fromthe primary customer to view the one or more limits on the store or theproduct and allow the primary customer to view the one or more limits onthe store or the product in a limit interface.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the store, and wherein the one or morelimits on the store are assigned using a Merchant Category Code, a storetype, or a store name. In still another embodiment of the invention, theone or more limits comprise one or more limits on the product, andwherein the one or more limits on the product are assigned using aUniversal Product Code, Stock Keeping Unit, a product type, or a productname.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the dependent paymentdevice comprises a credit card. In another embodiment of the invention,the dependent payment device comprises a debit card. In further accordwith another embodiment of the invention, the dependent payment deviceis associated with a credit account for which the primary customer is atleast partially responsible.

In another embodiment of the invention, the processing device configuredto execute computer-readable program code to receive, through thecommunication device, a request from a primary customer to set one ormore limits on a store or a product comprises receiving the request froma data capture device located in a mobile device.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the processing device isfurther configure to receive information, from a data capture devicefrom the dependent customer, regarding a store the dependent customer islocated at or a product that the dependent customer is interested in.The processing device is further configured to determine whether thestore the dependent customer is located at or the product that thedependent customer is interested in has an associated limit. Theprocessing device is further configured to notify the dependent customerwhen the store the customer is located at or the product that thedependent customer is interested in has an associated limit.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the processing device isfurther configured to notify the dependent customer of the one or morelimits when the primary customer sets or changes the one or more limits.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the processingdevice is further configured to notify the primary customer when thetransaction the dependent customer is trying to make is denied.

Another embodiment of the invention is a dependent financial transactionmethod. The method comprises receiving a request from a primary customerto set one or more limits on a store or a product, in order to controltransactions a dependent customer is permitted to make using a dependentpayment device at the store or for the product. The method furthercomprises saving the one or more limits on the store or the productreceived from the primary customer in a memory device. The method alsocomprises receiving a request from a merchant to allow the dependentcustomer to make a transaction using the dependent payment device. Themethod further comprises comparing, using a computer, the transactionagainst the one or more limits stored in the memory device. The methodalso comprises approving or denying the transaction the dependentcustomer is trying to make based on the comparison of the transactionagainst the one or more limits stored in the memory device.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the methodcomprises receiving an application for the dependent payment device fromthe primary customer listing a person as the dependent customer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limits comprisea transaction prevention limit that controls the transactions made bythe dependent customer by preventing the dependent customer from makingtransactions at the store or for the product.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise a transaction allowance limit that controls the transactionsmade by the dependent customer by allowing the dependent customer tomake transactions at the store or for the product.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise a monetary limit on an amount the dependent customer can spendat the store or for the product.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the one or morelimits comprise a time limit on the transaction the dependent customercan make at the store or for the product.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method comprises receiving arequest from a merchant to allow the primary customer to make a secondtransaction using the dependent payment device and allowing the primarycustomer to make the second transaction regardless of whether the secondtransaction meets or does not meet the one or more limits set on thestore or the product.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the method comprisesreceiving a request from the dependent customer to view transactionhistory and allowing the dependent customer to view the transactionhistory in a transaction history interface.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the method comprisesreceiving a request from the dependent customer to view the one or morelimits on the store or the product and allowing the dependent customerto view the one or more limits on the store or the product in a limitinterface.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the methodcomprises receiving a request from the primary customer to viewtransaction history and allowing the primary customer to view thetransaction history in a transaction history interface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method comprises receiving arequest from the primary customer to view the one or more limits on thestore or the product and allowing the primary customer to view the oneor more limits on the store or the product in a limit interface.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the store, and wherein the one or morelimits on the store are assigned using a Merchant Category Code, a storetype, or a store name.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the product, and wherein the one or morelimits on the product are assigned using a Universal Product Code, StockKeeping Unit, a product type, or a product name.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the dependentpayment device comprises a credit card. In still another embodiment ofthe invention, the dependent payment device comprises debit card. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the dependent payment device isassociated with a credit account for which the primary customer is atleast partially responsible.

In another embodiment of the invention, receiving a request from aprimary customer to set one or more limits on a store or a productcomprises receiving the request from a data capture device located in amobile device.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the dependent financialtransition method further comprises receiving information, from a datacapture device from the dependent customer, regarding a store thedependent customer is located at or a product that the dependentcustomer is interested in. The method also comprises determining whetherthe store the dependent customer is located at or the product that thedependent customer is interested in has an associated limit. The methodfurther comprises notifying the dependent customer when the store thecustomer is located at or the product that the dependent customer isinterested in has an associated limit.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the dependent financialtransaction method, further comprises notifying the dependent customerof the one or more limits when the primary customer sets or changes theone or more limits, through the use of the processor.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the dependentfinancial transaction method, further comprises notifying the primarycustomer when the transaction the dependent customer is trying to makeis denied.

Another embodiment of the invention is a computer program product for adependent financial transaction system. The computer program productcomprises at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium havingcomputer-readable program code portions embodied therein. Thecomputer-readable program code portions comprise an executable portionconfigured for receiving a request from a primary customer to set one ormore limits on a store or a product, in order to control transactions adependent customer is permitted to make using a dependent payment deviceat the store or for the product. The computer-readable program codeportions further comprise an executable portion configured for savingthe one or more limits on the store or the product received from theprimary customer in a memory device. The computer-readable program codeportions also comprise an executable portion configured for receiving arequest from a merchant to allow the dependent customer to make atransaction using the dependent payment device. The computer-readableprogram code portions further comprise an executable portion configuredfor comparing the transaction against the one or more limits stored inthe memory device. The computer-readable program code portions alsocomprise an executable portion configured for approving or denying thetransaction the dependent customer is trying to make based on thecomparison of the transaction against the one or more limits stored inthe memory device.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the computerprogram product comprises an executable portion configured for receivingan application for the dependent payment device from the primarycustomer listing a person as the dependent customer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limits comprisea transaction prevention limit that controls the transactions made bythe dependent customer by preventing the dependent customer from makingtransactions at the store or for the product.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise a transaction allowance limit that controls the transactionsmade by the dependent customer by allowing the dependent customer tomake transactions at the store or for the product.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise a monetary limit on an amount the dependent customer can spendat the store or for the product.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the one or morelimits comprise a time limit on the transaction the dependent customercan make at the store or for the product.

In another embodiment of the invention, the computer program productcomprises an executable portion configured for receiving a request froma merchant to allow the primary customer to make a second transactionusing the dependent payment device and an executable portion configuredfor allowing the primary customer to make the second transactionregardless if the second transaction meets or does not meet the one ormore limits set on the store or the product.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the computer program productcomprises an executable portion configured for receiving a request fromthe dependent customer to view transaction history and an executableportion configured for allowing the dependent customer to view thetransaction history in a transaction history interface.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the computer programproduct comprises an executable portion configured for receiving arequest from the dependent customer to view the one or more limits onthe store or the product and an executable portion configured forallowing the dependent customer to view the one or more limits on thestore or the product in a limit interface.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the computerprogram product comprises an executable portion configured for receivinga request from the primary customer to view transaction history and anexecutable portion configured for allowing the primary customer to viewthe transaction history in a transaction history interface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the computer program productcomprises an executable portion configured for receiving a request fromthe primary customer to view the one or more limits on the store or theproduct and an executable portion configured for allowing the primarycustomer to view the one or more limits on the store or the product in alimit interface.

In yet another an embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the store, and wherein the one or morelimits on the store are assigned using a Merchant Category Code, a storetype, or a store name.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the product, and wherein the one or morelimits on the product are assigned using a Universal Product Code, StockKeeping Unit, a product type, or a product name.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the dependentpayment device comprises a credit card. In still another embodiment ofthe invention, the dependent payment device comprise a debit card. Inanother embodiment of the invention the dependent payment device isassociated with a credit account for which the primary customer is atleast partially responsible.

In another embodiment of the invention, the executable portionconfigured for receiving a request from a primary customer to set one ormore limits on a store or a product comprises receiving the request froma data capture device located in a mobile device.

In yet another embodiment if the invention, the computer program productfurther comprises an executable portion configured for receivinginformation, from a data capture device from the dependent customer,regarding a store the dependent customer is located at or a product thatthe dependent customer is interested in. The computer program productfurther comprises an executable portion configured for determiningwhether the store the dependent customer is located at or the productthat the dependent customer is interested in has an associated limit.The computer program product further comprises an executable portionconfigured for notifying the dependent customer when the store thecustomer is located at or the product that the dependent customer isinterested in has an associated limit.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the computer programproduct further comprises an executable portion configured for notifyingthe dependent customer of the one or more limits when the primarycustomer sets or changes the one or more limits, through the use of theprocessor.

In further accord with an embodiment of the invention, the computerprogram product, further comprises an executable portion configured fornotifying the primary customer when the transaction the dependentcustomer is trying to make is denied.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed may beachieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventionor may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of whichcan be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 provides a block diagram illustrating a dependent financialtransaction environment and system, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 provides a process map illustrating a dependent payment deviceaccount set up process, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 provides an online banking interface for setting up a dependentcredit card program, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 provides an online banking dependent credit card accountinterface, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 provides an online banking dependent credit card limit interface,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 provides an online banking transaction history interface, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 provides a process map illustrating a dependent payment devicetransaction process, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.Although some embodiments of the invention described herein aregenerally described as involving a “bank,” one of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that other embodiments of the invention may involveother businesses or financial institutions that take the place of orwork in conjunction with the bank to perform one or more of theprocesses or steps described herein as being performed by a bank. Stillin other embodiments of the invention the bank or financial institutiondescribed herein may be replaced with other types of businesses thatoffer payment devices to customers.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in view ofthis disclosure, the present invention may be embodied as an apparatus(including, for example, a system, machine, device, computer programproduct, and/or the like), as a method (including, for example, abusiness process, computer-implemented process, and/or the like), or asany combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments of thepresent invention may take the form of an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), an entirelyhardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “system.”Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product that includes a computer-readable storagemedium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein.As used herein, a processor may be “configured to” perform a certainfunction in a variety of ways, including, for example, by having one ormore general-purpose circuits perform the function by executing one ormore computer-executable program code portions embodied in acomputer-readable medium, and/or by having one or moreapplication-specific circuits perform the function.

It will be understood that any suitable computer-readable medium may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limitedto, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a tangibleelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, and/orsemiconductor system, apparatus, and/or device. For example, in someembodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes atangible medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), and/or some other tangible optical and/ormagnetic storage device. In other embodiments of the present invention,however, the computer-readable medium may be transitory, such as apropagation signal including computer-executable program code portionsembodied therein.

It will also be understood that one or more computer-executable programcode portions for carrying out operations of the present invention mayinclude object-oriented, scripted, and/or unscripted programminglanguages, such as, for example, Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++, SAS, SQL,Python, Objective C, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the one ormore computer-executable program code portions for carrying outoperations of embodiments of the present invention are written inconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming languages and/or similar programming languages. The computerprogram code may alternatively or additionally be written in one or moremulti-paradigm programming languages, such as, for example, F#.

It will further be understood that some embodiments of the presentinvention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrationsand/or block diagrams of systems, methods, and/or computer programproducts. It will be understood that each block included in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks included in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams,may be implemented by one or more computer-executable program codeportions. These one or more computer-executable program code portionsmay be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, and/or some other programmable data processingapparatus in order to produce a particular machine, such that the one ormore computer-executable program code portions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer and/or other programmable data processingapparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the steps and/or functionsrepresented by the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram block(s).

It will also be understood that the one or more computer-executableprogram code portions may be stored in a transitory or non-transitorycomputer-readable medium (e.g., a memory, etc.) that can direct acomputer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to functionin a particular manner, such that the computer-executable program codeportions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article ofmanufacture including instruction mechanisms which implement the stepsand/or functions specified in the flowchart(s) and/or block diagramblock(s).

The one or more computer-executable program code portions may also beloaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processingapparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer and/or other programmable apparatus. In some embodiments, thisproduces a computer-implemented process such that the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions which execute on the computerand/or other programmable apparatus provide operational steps toimplement the steps specified in the flowchart(s) and/or the functionsspecified in the block diagram block(s). Alternatively,computer-implemented steps may be combined with operator and/orhuman-implemented steps in order to carry out an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a dependent credit environment 1 and dependent creditsystem 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the online banking server 4 is operativelycoupled, via a network 2 to the dependent credit server 6, other bankservers 5, merchant systems 7, and user computer systems 8. In this way,the online banking system 10 can receive and send information from andto the dependent credit system 20, user system 30, merchant systems 7,and systems located on other bank servers 5 so users 9 can view, sign upfor, or manage their dependent credit account through online bankingaccounts. FIG. 1 illustrates only one example of embodiments of adependent credit environment 1 and dependent credit system 20, and itwill be appreciated that in other embodiments one or more of the serversor systems may be combined into a single server or system or be made upof multiple servers or systems.

In some embodiments of the invention, the users 9 can be either primarycustomers or dependent customers. The primary customers are generallyusers 9 that apply for the dependent credit card, set the limits on thedependent credit card, and are ultimately responsible for the debtaccrued through the use of the dependent credit card. The primarycustomers, in some cases, are the only users 9 that can set-up andchange the credit limits, the MCCs, and other inputs used forcontrolling the purchases of the dependent customers, as explained infurther detail later. In contrast, the dependent customers are generallyusers 9 that often are not allowed to receive credit under the currentlaws governing credit cards or cannot by themselves receive approvalfrom a financial institution for credit. The dependent customers, inmost cases, are allowed to access an online banking account for viewingthe account transactions and limits related to the dependent creditaccount, but do not have the ability to set or change the credit limitor the MCC transaction restrictions set by the primary customer. Assuch, the primary and dependent customers usually have different onlinebanking accounts with different login identifiers. In some embodiments,“dependents” are legal dependents of the primary customers, while inother embodiments they are any person agreeing to provide the primarycustomers with control over use of the dependent's credit card or otherfinancial account. Furthermore, although a credit card is often used todescribe examples herein, other embodiments may include payment devicesother than cards and/or financial accounts other than credit accounts.

In some embodiments the primary customer is a parent and the dependentcustomer is the child of the parent. The child may not be able toreceive credit because the child is too young under the Credit Card Actof 2009 or other law, or the child has poor or no credit history andthus a financial institution may not approve the child for a credit cardon the child's own. In some cases the child may be a student or may beliving away from the parent, and may have a need to make purchases thathe may not have the funds to make. Often a parent would want the childto have a credit card to make the necessary purchases the child needs orfor emergency situations, school supplies, food, etc. Notwithstandingthe child's need for credit or other sources of money, the parent wouldwant to prevent the child from being able to abuse the credit card bypreventing the child from being able to make purchases that the parentdeemed unnecessary. The dependent credit card also allows the dependentcustomer to build up some credit history allowing the child to have abetter chance to receive credit on his own when he reaches the properage or has acquired the necessary credit worthiness. In someembodiments, the primary customer does not have to be a parent of thedependent customer. The primary customer can be a person that qualifiesfor credit from a financial institution, and the dependent customer canbe a person that cannot qualify for credit on his own accord. Forexample, a child may need to control the spending of an elderly parent,a guardian may need to control the spending of a dependent, a person mayneed to control the spending of a friend or relative that cannot receivecredit, an employer may need to control the spending of an employee,etc. In other embodiments of the invention, the primary customer and/orthe dependent need not be actual people. In some embodiments of theinvention, the primary customer can be a business or other entity, suchas but not limited to a charitable organization, small business,fraternity, sorority, or other organization and the dependent customeris another entity or person who can act as a officer, agent, member,partner, employee, contractor, etc. of the primary customer. In someembodiments the primary customer is additionally liable for the creditused by the dependent customer, while in other embodiments the primarycustomer merely controls the dependent customer's access to the creditwithout being additionally liable for the credit used.

The network 2 may be a global area network (GAN), such as the Internet,a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or any other typeof network or combination of networks. The network 2 may provide forwireline, wireless, or a combination of wireline and wirelesscommunication between devices on the network.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the online banking system 10 is located on theonline banking server 4, and generally comprises a communication device12, a processing device 14, and a memory device 16. As used herein, theterm “processing device” generally includes circuitry used forimplementing the communication and/or logic functions of a particularsystem. For example, a processing device may include a digital signalprocessor device, a microprocessor device, and various analog-to-digitalconverters, digital-to-analog converters, and other support circuitsand/or combinations of the foregoing. Control and signal processingfunctions of the system are allocated between these processing devicesaccording to their respective capabilities. The processing device mayinclude functionality to operate one or more software programs based oncomputer-readable instructions thereof, which may be stored in a memorydevice.

The processing device 14 is operatively coupled to the communicationdevice 12 and the memory device 16. The processing device 14 uses thecommunication device 12 to communicate with the network 2 and otherdevices on the network 2, such as, but not limited to, the dependentcredit server 6, other bank servers 5, merchant systems 7, and usercomputer systems 8. As such, the communication device 12 generallycomprises a modem, server, or other device for communicating with otherdevices on the network 2.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the online banking system 10 comprisescomputer-readable instructions 18 stored in the memory device 16, whichin one embodiment includes the computer-readable instructions 18 of anonline banking application 17. In some embodiments, the memory device 16includes a datastore 19 for storing data related to the online bankingsystem 10, including but not limited to data created and/or used by theonline banking application 17.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and described throughout much ofthis specification, the online banking application 17 allows a user 9,either the primary customer or the dependent customer, to access andreview the dependent credit card account. In the case of a primarycustomer, the user 9 can access the account, review the transactionhistory, edit the credit limit, edit the MCCs and/or transactionrestrictions or approvals, etc. In the case of a dependent customer, theuser 9 can access the account, review the transaction history, view thecredit limit, view the transaction restrictions or approvals, etc.through the privacy and security offered by the online bankingapplication 17.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the dependent credit systems 20 arelocated on the dependent credit servers 6. The dependent credit systems20 generally comprise a communication device 22, a processing device 24,and a memory device 26. The processing device 24 is operatively coupledto the communication device 22 and the memory device 26. The processingdevice 24 uses the communication device 22 to communicate with thenetwork 2, and other devices on the network 2, such as, but not limitedto, the online banking server 4, other bank servers 5, merchant systems7, and/or user computer systems 8. As such, the communication device 22generally comprises a modem, server, or other device(s) forcommunicating with other devices on the network 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dependent credit systems 20 comprisecomputer-readable program instructions 28 stored in the memory device26, which in one embodiment includes the computer-readable instructions28 of a dependent credit application 27. In some embodiments, the memorydevice 26 includes a datastore 29 for storing data related to thedependent credit system 20, including but not limited to data createdand/or used by the dependent credit application 27, such as dependentcustomer restrictions or approvals.

The dependent credit application 27 allows the primary customers toestablish, edit, and view dependent credit accounts through the onlinebanking application 17. The dependent credit application 27 stores thelimits for the dependent credit card that are established by the primarycustomers. As used herein, “limits” may be established by specifyingrestrictions or approvals. In other words, the default may be unlimiteduse by the dependent customer except for noted restrictions establishedby the primary customer, no permitted use by the dependent customerexcept for permitted use explicitly defined by approvals established bythe primary customer, or a combination of restrictions and approvals.Furthermore, when a user 9 makes a purchase at a merchant, the merchantsystems 7 communicate with the dependent credit system 20 and thedependent credit application 27 accepts or denies the purchase made bythe user 9 depending on the limits the primary customer has put on thedependent credit card. The dependent credit application 27 stores anytransactions that were made or denied for display in the transactionhistory interface 600. The dependent credit application 27 allows theprimary customers and dependent customers to access the dependent creditcard account through the online banking application 17 in order to viewany transactions that were processed or prevented due to the imposedlimits, such a MCCs, UPCs, Stock Keeping Units, and/or other limits. Insome embodiments of the invention the dependent credit application 27may include, be replaced by, or work in conjunction with a dependentdebit application. In these embodiments the dependent debit applicationwould work in the same or similar way as described herein for thedependent credit application 27. For example the dependent debitapplication would store the limits for the dependent debit cardestablished by the primary customer, communicate with the merchantsystems 7 when users 9 made a transaction with the dependent debit card,approve or deny the transaction based on the limits, and store thetransactions approved or denied for display to the users 9.

MCCs or other identifiers can be assigned to types of businesses, suchas liquor stores, gambling establishments, clothing stores, restaurants,etc. or they can be assigned to specific stores within the types ofstores. In some embodiments the MCCs for a specific store or type ofstore are assigned to each card scanner for the store. In someembodiments MCCs, UPCs, or other identifiers are assigned to products.Therefore, when the dependent customer uses the dependent credit card ata card scanner at a store to purchase a product, the scanner and/or themerchant system 7 sends the MCC or identifier related to the storeand/or UPC or identifier related to the product to the dependent creditapplication 27. The dependent credit card application 27 checks theMCCs, UPCs, and/or other identifiers against the list ofblocked/approved MCCs, UPCs, and/or other identifiers and denies thepurchase if the purchase violated a limit imposed by the primarycustomer. In some embodiments limits can be placed on certain stores,restaurants, websites, etc. that the primary customer wants toblock/approve, without using the MCCs, UPCs, and/or other identifiers.The name of the particular business, the website address, uniformresource locator (“URL”), or other business or website identifier may beadded to the blocked/approved list associated with the dependent creditcard account, so that when a customer tries to make a purchase using thedependent credit card at the blocked/approved store the transaction isdenied/accepted as the case may be. The dependent credit cardapplication 27, allows the primary customer to control the types andamounts of purchases that the dependent card holder can make with thedependent credit card.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the user systems 30 are located on theuser computer systems 8. The user systems 30 generally comprise acommunication device 32, a processing device 34, and a memory device 36.The processing device 34 is operatively coupled to the communicationdevice 32 and the memory device 36. The processing device 34 uses thecommunication device 32 to communicate with the network 2, and otherdevices on the network 2, such as, but not limited to, the onlinebanking server 4, dependent credit server 6, merchant systems 7, and/orother bank servers 5. As such, the communication device 32 generallycomprises a modem, server, or other devices for communicating with otherdevices on the network 2, and a display, camera, keypad, mouse,keyboard, microphone, and/or speakers for communicating with one or moreusers 9. The user system 30 may include, for example, a personalcomputer, a tablet, a mobile device (i.e. phone, or personal displaydevice (“PDA”)) or other devices, etc. In some embodiments, user system30, such as the mobile device or other devices could include a datacapture device that is operatively coupled to the communication device32, processing device 34, and the memory device 36. The data capturedevice could include devices such as, but not limited to, a scannerdevice, image capture device, wireless data capture device (i.e. radiofrequency identification (“RFID”) device, global positioning satellite(“GPS”) device, etc.), which can be used by a user 9 to captureinformation from a product or store, set limits, and/or preventtransactions, as explained in further detail later.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the user systems 30 comprise computer-readableprogram instructions 38 stored in the memory device 36, which in oneembodiment includes the computer-readable instructions 38 of a webbrowsing application 37. In some embodiments, the memory device 36includes a datastore 39 for storing data related to the user system 30,including but not limited to data created and/or used by the webbrowsing application 37. The web browsing application 37 allows the user9 to communicate with the online banking application 17 in order toaccesses the user's dependent credit card account through the dependentcredit application 27. In other embodiments, a specific applicationspecifically configured to communicate with the online bankingapplication is used in lieu of a generic web browsing application 37. Insome embodiments of the invention, wherein the user system 30 includes adata capture device 36, the memory device 36 may include computerreadable instructions 38 of a data capture application, which eitheralone, through the web browsing application 37, or through anotherapplication, communicates with the dependent credit application 27,online banking application 17, or other applications. The data captureapplication allows a primary customer to capture information about aproduct or store, and set limits on the product or store, which can betransferred to the dependent credit application 27. The data captureapplication also allows a dependent customer to capture informationabout a product or store and check with the dependent credit application27 if he is allowed to make a transaction at the store or for theproduct.

The other bank servers 5 are operatively coupled to the online bankingserver 4, dependent credit server 6, merchant systems 7, and usercomputer systems 8 through the network 2. The other bank servers 5 havesystems with devices the same or similar to the devices described forthe online banking system 10, dependent credit system 20, and usersystems 30 (i.e. communication device, processing device, memory devicewith computer-readable instructions, datastore, etc.). Thus, the otherbank servers 5 communicate with the online banking system 10, dependentcredit system 20, merchant systems 7, and user system 30 in the same orsimilar way as previously described with respect to each system. Theother bank servers 5, in some embodiments, are comprised of systems anddevices that store and access account information or other informationwithin or outside of the bank.

The merchant systems 7 are operatively coupled to the online bankingserver 4, dependent credit server 6, user computer systems 8, and otherbank servers 5 through the network 2. The merchant systems 7 havesystems with devices the same or similar to the devices described forthe online banking system 10, dependent credit system 20, and usersystem 30 (i.e. communication device, processing device, memory devicewith computer-readable instructions, datastore, etc.). Thus, themerchant systems 7 communicate with the online banking system 10,dependent credit system 20, and/or user system 30 in the same or similarway as previously described with respect to each system. The merchantsystems 7 can be computer systems that incorporate scanners, manualinput devices, or other data reading devices that can read and captureinformation embedded in credit cards or other payment devices throughmagnetic strips, radio frequency identification tags, other wirelesstransmitters, other scannable features, manually inputted information,etc. The information captured by the merchant systems 7 from the creditcards or other payment devices allows the merchant system 7 to chargethe credit account of the user 9. For example, the merchant systems 7can be registers located in a store, Internet websites that are accessedby the user computer systems 8 remotely, etc., which allow the user 9 tomake purchases from the merchant using the dependent credit card.Information on or related to the dependent credit card is captured atthe store or on the website and transferred to the dependent creditsystem 20.

It is understood that the servers, systems, and devices described hereinillustrate one embodiment of the invention. It is further understoodthat one or more of the servers, systems, and devices can be combined inother embodiments and still function in the same or similar way as theembodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a dependent credit card process 200, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in block 202of FIG. 2, the primary customer applies for a dependent card on behalfof or along with the dependent customer. In some embodiments of theinvention the primary customer can fill out application paperwork andmail the application into the financial institution or company offeringthe dependent credit card. In other embodiments, the primary customercan apply over the telephone, instant message, e-mail, etc. for adependent credit card. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the primarycustomer applies for the dependent credit card through the primarycustomer's online banking account using the online banking application17 and web browsing application 37. It is understood that embodiments ofthe present invention may work equally well in applying for a dependentcredit card through various channels. In order to apply for creditthrough the primary customer's online banking account the primarycustomer first has to sign into the primary customer's online bankingaccount and the online banking application 17 has to authentic theprimary customer as the correct customer for the corresponding onlinebanking account.

After the primary customer is authenticated, the online bankingapplication 17 displays the online banking home page interface 300, asillustrated in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 3,the online banking home page interface 300 has a Bank Accounts section310, a Customer Service Section 320, and a Dependent Credit CardInformation section 330. The primary customer can navigate the BankAccounts section 310 to review and analyze the accounts that the primarycustomer has with the bank. In some embodiments of the invention, if theprimary customer has already been approved for a dependent credit card,the Bank Accounts section 310 may have a link for the dependent creditcard account. The Customer Service section 320 allows the primarycustomer to find, receive, and ask for help related to various topicswithin the bank. As illustrated by the Dependent Credit Card section330, the primary customer may select a dependent credit card link 332 inorder to apply for the dependent credit card.

After selecting the dependent credit card link 332 the primary customeris taken to the account interface 400 in the account tab 402, asillustrated by FIG. 4. As previously discussed, applying for a dependentcredit card through the online banking system is one of many ways that aprimary or dependent customer can apply for a dependent credit card. Asillustrated in the account interface 400 there is a primary customersection 410 and a dependent customer section 440. In the primarycustomer section 410 the primary customer enters personal information,such as, but not limited to, the primary customer's name 412, address414, date of birth 416, social security number (SSN) 418, phone 420,e-mail 422, income 424, other income 426, total household income 428,employment status 430, and bank accounts 432 held with the financialinstitution. In other embodiments of the invention the primary customerwill be required to provide additional information, such as, but notlimited to, copies of pay stubs, accounts and corresponding balanceslocated at other financial institutions, outstanding debt, etc. in orderfor the bank to make an informed decision regarding the creditworthiness of the primary customer. In other embodiments of theinvention, the primary customer also fills in the dependent customersection 440 of the application with the dependent customer information.In some embodiments of the invention, the primary customer providesinformation such as, but not limited to, the dependent customer's name442, address 444, date of birth 446, SSN 448, relationship to theprimary customer 450, phone 452, and e-mail 454. In some embodiments theprimary customer also can add another dependent customer to thedependent credit card by selecting the add another customer button 462,which allows the primary customer to add more than one dependentcustomer to the dependent credit card account. In other embodiments ofthe invention the primary customer can also apply for credit protectionor a balance transfer for the account using the credit protection button464 or the balance transfer button 466. When the primary customer hascompleted the application the primary customer selects the Apply ForCredit button 470. In other embodiments of the invention, the accountinformation in the account interface 400 used to apply for the dependentcredit card can be updated and saved using the Save Changes button 472whenever the information for the primary customer and/or the dependentcustomer changes.

In some embodiments the dependent customer may log into his onlinebanking account to participate in the application process, such as tocomplete the dependent customer section 440. In some embodiments of theinvention the dependent customer may fill out the dependent customersection 440 first and ask a person to act as the primary customer byhaving the person sign into the primary customer's online bankingaccount to fill out the rest of the application. In other embodiments ofthe invention, the dependent customer logs into the online bankingaccount after the primary customer has filled out the primary customersection 410 of the application. In some embodiments of the invention theprimary customer and dependent customer must sign into the onlinebanking account before the dependent credit card is issued in order toagree to the terms and conditions of the card. In other embodiments ofthe invention the primary customer or dependent customer can fill out orapply for a part of or all of the dependent credit card applicationthrough another channel, such as, in person at the bank, over e-mail,over instant message, etc.

As illustrated by block 204 in FIG. 2, after the primary customer hasapplied for the dependent credit card, the bank will determine whetheror not to extend credit to the primary customer and the dependentcustomer based on the financial information of the primary customeronly. In some embodiments of the invention, the financial information ofthe dependent customer is taken into account by the financialinstitution. However, since in some embodiments the primary customer isthe only customer ultimately responsible for any debt acquired by thedependent customer, the financial institution may only be concerned withthe ability of the primary customer to pay the dependent credit cardbill. As illustrated by block 206, if the financial institution feelsthat the primary customer is too much of a risk to extend credit to,then the financial institution may deny the primary customer'sapplication for the dependent credit card. As illustrated by terminationblock 226, when the primary customer does not qualify for the dependentcredit card the dependent credit card process 200 may be terminated.

As illustrated by block 208, if the financial institution determinesthat the risk is acceptable in extending credit to the primary customer,then the primary customer may qualify for the dependent credit card. Insome embodiments of the invention, as illustrated by block 210, thefinancial institution determines the maximum credit limit based on thecredit worthiness of the primary customer. Furthermore, in someembodiments of the invention, as illustrated in block 212, the financialinstitution sets the initial credit limit of the dependent credit cardequal to the maximum credit limit and also sets up the dependent creditcard with no other limits. In some embodiments of the invention theprimary customer can set the credit limit, blocked/approved MCCs, and/orcreate other limits when applying for the dependent credit card, and thefinancial institution sets the limits automatically after the customeris approved for the dependent credit card.

After being approved, the primary customer can edit the credit limit,block/approve certain transactions, or create other limits for thedependent customer by, for example, selecting particular MCCs, stores,and/or products as illustrated by block 214. If the primary customerwants to edit the credit limit, the blocked/approved MCCs, stores,and/or products, then the primary customer can do so through a number ofchannels such as, but not limited to, over the telephone, throughe-mail, through instant message, in person through speaking with acustomer representative, through a kiosk or ATM, and/or over theinternet, as illustrated in block 216. In some embodiments the primarycustomer can edit the credit limit, block/approve specific MCCs, stores,and/or products using the primary customer's online banking account.FIG. 5 illustrates a dependent credit limit interface 500 in the setlimit tab 502. The dependent credit limit interface 500 has a creditlimit section 510 that includes a total limit 512, a MCC limit section520, a store limit section 530, and a search section 540. The primarycustomer can set the total credit limit for the dependent card if theprimary customer thinks that the maximum credit limit determined by thefinancial institution is too high for the dependent customer. Forexample, the financial institution may determine that the credit limitfor the dependent customer based on the credit worthiness of the primarycustomer should be a maximum of five thousand (5,000) dollars. Theprimary customer may feel that this credit limit is too high for thedependent customer. Therefore, the primary customer has the option toset the credit limit at a lower amount, for example two thousand (2,000)dollars, by entering the amount in the total limit section 512 of thedependent credit limit interface 500.

In other embodiments of the invention, the primary customer can controlthe types of purchases that the dependent customer can make. In oneembodiment the primary customer controls the types of purchases byadding MCCs to a list of blocked MCCs. MCCs are industry standard codesassigned to types of stores, individual stores, or potentially in somecases actual products, in an effort to categorize the types of stores,stores, and/or products into various groups. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the MCC limit section 520 lists in some embodiments the MCC 522, thetype 524 of store, actual store, or product, the limit 526 on therelated MCC, and the time 528 for the extent of the limit. Therefore,the primary customer can add different MCCs, such as, but not limited toMCCs for grocery stores, men's and women's clothing stores, electronicsales, eating places and restaurants, package stores (for beer, wine,and liquor), health and beauty shops, etc. to a blocked list ofpurchases that the primary customer wants to regulate or block thedependent customer from making. In some embodiments of the invention,adding the MCCs to the blocked list completely prevents the dependentcustomer from making purchases at the store or for a product. In otherembodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the primary customer can place aparticular monetary limit on the amount of money the dependent customercan spend in a type of store, in a specific store, or on a product. Insome embodiments, the primary customer can place time limits on themonetary limits for particular MCCs. For example, as illustrated in FIG.5, the primary customer can add the MCC for grocery stores to theblocked list and set a monetary limit of five hundred (500) dollars tothe grocery store, therefore preventing the dependent customer fromspending more than five hundred (500) dollars at a grocery store.Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the primary customer can also seta time limit for the monetary limit, such as a time limit of one month,therefore, in this example, preventing the dependent customer fromspending more than five hundred (500) dollars at a grocery store in aone month period. Example time periods include a single transaction, apredefined number of transactions, a day, a number of days, a month, ayear, a number of years, etc.

In some embodiments of the invention the primary customer can putdifferent limits on the same MCCs. For example, as illustrated in FIG.5, the primary customer can also set a limit of one hundred (100)dollars a day at a grocery store, therefore preventing the dependentcustomer from spending both more than one hundred (100) dollars a dayand five hundred (500) a month at a grocery store.

If the primary customer does not want the dependent customer to be ableto purchase anything related to a particular MCC, in one embodiment theprimary customer can set a limit of zero (0) dollars for the particularMCC. For example, if the primary customer wants to prevent a dependentcustomer from purchasing any products at a package store, such as beer,wine, and liquor, the primary customer sets a limit of zero (0) dollarson the MCC related to package stores generally.

In other embodiments of the invention, the primary customer can addspecific stores to the blocked list if the primary customer wants tolimit the transactions the dependent customer can make. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 5, the primary customer can prevent the dependentcustomer from purchasing anything from a particular pub. Furthermore,for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the primary customer can set alimit of five hundred (500) dollars at the campus bookstore, whichallows the dependent customer to purchase the necessary books forclasses, but not other items at the campus bookstore.

In other embodiments of the invention, not illustrated in FIG. 5, thedependent credit limit interface 500 can include an approved list inlieu of or in addition to the blocked list. For example, the approvedlist allows the primary customer to limit the transactions the dependentcustomer can to make to only the stores or products on the approvedlist. The approved list works in much the same way as the blocked listdescribed with respect to FIG. 5, in that the primary customer can setlimits on the stores and products, such as, but not limited to monetaryand time limits by using MCCs, stores, products, or other identifiers.The difference between the blocked list and the approved list being thatthe dependent customer can make any type of transaction outside of anystore or product on the blocked list, while the approved list onlyallows the dependent customer to make transactions that are included onthe approved list.

In order to add the MCCs, or other particular stores to theblocked/approved list, in one embodiment, the primary customer can enterthe MCC, type of store, store name, address, etc. directly into theblocked/approved list. In other embodiments, the primary customer canenter the MCC, type of store, store name, address, etc. into a searchfeature and thereafter into the blocked/approved list after each isfound through the search feature. As illustrated in the search section540 of FIG. 5, the primary customer can enter the name of a store intothe name section 542, the address of the store into the address section544, the MCC into the MCC section 546, or the type of store into thetype section 548, and thereafter select the search button 550 toidentify the store or MCC based on the search criteria. When the correctstore or MCC is identified the primary customer can select the addbutton 552 to add the store or MCC to the blocked list. Thereafter, theprimary customer can set the monetary limits and time limits for eachMCC or store as previously described. In other embodiments of theinvention, the blocked/approved lists or the search section 540 includesdrop-down features or browsing lists that contain the store name, storetypes, store identifiers, product names, products types, and/or productidentifiers that allow a primary customer to identify the stores orproducts that the primary customer wants to add to the blocked/approvedlists.

In some embodiments of the invention the primary customer can add arange of MCCs to the blocked list, so that the dependent customer doesnot need to add every individual MCC related to a particular industry tothe blocked/approved list. For example, the primary customer can add thegroup of MCCs from three-thousand (3000) to three-thousand two-hundredand ninety-nine (3299) which covers “Airlines” in order to limit thetransactions the dependent customer can make with merchants related toairlines.

In some embodiments of the invention, the primary customer can set anoverall credit limit for a period of time, such as but not limited toper day, number of days, week, number of weeks, months, number ofmonths, year, etc. The primary customer can then limit stores orproducts based on type of store, store, type of product, product, MCC,UPC, and/or other identifier as a percentage of the overall credit limitfor a specific period of time. For example, the credit limit on abookstore may be set by the primary customer at five-hundred (500)dollars. Thereafter, the primary customer can set a limit that thedependent customer can spend one-hundred (100) percent of the creditlimit in September, fifty (50) percent of the credit limit in October,and zero (0) percent the rest of the year.

In some embodiments of the invention the dependent credit limitinterface can be populated by the primary customer using drag and dropfeatures in order to set the limits on the total credit as well as thestores and products in the blocked/approved lists in the dependentcredit account.

In some embodiments of the invention, instead of creating transactionlimits that either block/approve transactions made by dependentcustomers, other limits can be applied to stores or products that servesimply as notification limits instead of denial/acceptance limits.Therefore, in some embodiments, the primary customer allows thedependent customer to make various types of transactions at stores orfor products, but sets notification limits in order to be notified whenthe dependent customer makes the transactions. In these embodiments, theprimary customer can track the transactions made by the dependentcustomer without having to limit the types of transactions made by thedependent customer.

In some embodiments of the invention UPCs relating to specific productsor types of products, or other product identifiers, such as StockKeeping Units, etc., can be used in addition to or instead of MCCs. Forexample, UPCs are codes that are assigned to each product in the market.The UPCs have a bar code assigned to each UPC so when the product ispurchased computer systems identify the product for purposes such aspricing, accounting, inventory, etc. Products can be added to theblocked/approved list in the dependent credit limit interface 500 usinga UPC or other identifier. For example, the MCC limit section 520 caninclude sections, or be replaced by sections, for adding UPCs or otherproduct or identifier limits to a blocked/approved list of products. Inaddition, in some embodiments of the invention, monetary limits and/ortime limits can be applied to the blocked/approved list of productsusing the UPCs or other product identifiers, as was previously describedwith respect to the MCC limits.

In still other embodiments of the invention other identifiers can beused in place of or in conjunction with MCCs, UPCs, or otheridentifiers. For example 2D barcodes, Quick Response codes (“QD codes”),RFID tags, etc. that are assigned to products could be added to ablocked/approved list of products in the dependent credit account.Therefore, products that the dependent customer tries to purchase, whichuse these identifiers would be checked by the dependent creditapplication 27 against the blocked/approved list before the transactioncould be approved.

As illustrated by block 218 in FIG. 2, after the primary customer editsthe initial credit limit or blocked/approved stores or products, theprimacy customer saves the edits and they are stored in the dependentcredit system 20. After the initial credit limits and blocked/approvedstores and products are saved the disclosures and terms of use are sentto the primary customer and the one or more dependent customers, asillustrated by block 220. The disclosures and terms of use outline thehow the primary customer and dependent customer may use the dependentcredit card and manage the dependent credit account. As illustrated byblock 222, after the disclosures and terms of use are sent and agreedto, the dependent customer can begin using the dependent credit cardwithin the limits set by the primary customer.

At any time during the use of the dependent credit card the primarycustomer or dependent customer can log into their online banking accountto view the transactions made on the card. In some embodiments, thedependent customer has a separate online banking account, login name,and password from the primary customer. This allows the dependentcustomer to view any transactions on the card, but prevents thedependent customer from being able to make changes to the maximum creditlimit or the blocked/approved MCCs, store, or products. FIG. 6illustrates a transaction history interface 600 located in thetransactions tab 602 that allows the primary customer to view thetransactions made on the dependent credit card. In some embodiments ofthe invention the same or similar transaction history interface is alsoavailable for viewing by the dependent customer in the dependentcustomer's online banking account. As illustrated in FIG. 6, thetransaction history interface 600, in some embodiments, has atransaction history section 610 that lists the transaction date 612, thetransaction description 614, the transaction customer 616 that made thetransaction, the transaction amount 618, the total account balance 620,and the limit balance 622 for the type of transaction. When thedependent customer tries to make a transaction that does not meet thelimits set by the primary customer the transaction is denied. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the grocery store transactions madeon Jun. 8^(th), 2010 were denied because the amount was more than thelimit of one-hundred (100) dollars in a single day for grocery stores.

In some embodiments, the primary customer can also make purchases withthe dependent credit card. In one embodiment, the primary customer anddependent customer both have credit cards with different numbers thatare linked to the dependent credit card account. In other embodiments,the primary customer and dependent customer have credit cards with thesame account number, but have identifiers that distinguish them fromeach other when making purchases. In other embodiments, the primarycustomer does not have a credit card linked to the dependent credit cardaccount, and thus even though the primary customer has control over theaccount the primary customer cannot make purchases using the account. Asillustrated in FIG. 6 in some embodiments the primary customer is notsubject to the limits that the primary customer placed on the dependentcustomer when the primary customer is making a purchase with thedependent credit card. As illustrated by the transaction made on Jun.6^(th), 2010 in FIG. 6, the primary customer is able to make a purchaseat the clothing store after the dependent customer has already reachedthe spending limit on clothing stores set by the primary customer. Insome embodiments the dependent credit card limit can be set to apply tothe primary customer as well as the dependent customer. As illustratedby the payment transactions made on Jun. 15^(th), 2010 both the primarycustomer and dependent customer can make payments on the card. Aspreviously discussed, having a credit card that can be paid in part bythe dependent customer can help the dependent customer build good credithistory when the dependent customer might have otherwise not been ableto be approved for a credit card.

In the case where the dependent payment device is a dependent debitcard, the settlement process would work differently than as describedfor the dependent credit card. Instead of carrying a balance on thedependent credit card, which is paid off though billing cycles by theusers 9, in the case of the dependent debit card the transaction paymentis deducted from an account associated with the dependent debit cardwhen the transaction occurs, or shortly thereafter. Therefore, adependent debit application may not only check the limits on a dependentdebit card when a transaction is made using the dependent debit card,but may also check the available balance in the dependent debit accountwhen the transaction is made.

In other embodiments of the invention, the primary customer and/or thedependent customer can request to be notified when a particular limit isclose to being reached or has been reached. For example, in someembodiments the primary customer or dependent customer can request anotification from the dependent credit account when the dependentcustomer has reached a percentage of a monetary limit, such as 80percent of the money that can be spent at grocery stores. This featureallows the primary customer and/or the dependent customer to be aware ofthe spending of the dependent customer. Thus, allowing the primarycustomer to change the limits if necessary and/or allowing the dependentcustomer to control his spending or request that the primary customer tochange the limits. These features also allow the primary customer andthe dependent customer to pay down certain limits before they reach themaximum limit in order to prevent additional transactions from beingdenied. In some embodiments the primary customer can set notificationalerts in order to be notified when the dependent customer makes atransaction at a store or for a product, type of store or product, rangeof stores or products, etc, in order to make payments on thetransactions before the end of the billing cycle. In some embodiments,the primary customer may want to pay off some transactions immediatelyor sometime before the end of the billing cycle, therefore thenotification alerts allow the primary customer to manually pay offcertain transactions made by the dependent customer. Furthermore, insome embodiments the primary customer can link the dependent credit cardaccount to another account and set up automatic payments to occur atvarious time for various transactions made by the dependent customer.

As illustrated by block 224 in FIG. 2, the primary customer can at anytime log into online banking and edit the limits set on the dependentcredit card. For example, if the primary customer originally set a limitof five hundred (500) dollars at the campus bookstore so the dependentcustomer could buy books for classes, the primary customer can changethe limit to zero (0) dollars after the dependent customer has purchasedthe books, in order to prevent the dependent customer from makingpurchases at the campus bookstore for other products, such as clothingor other supplies. When the primary customer is done editing the limitsthe process may terminate, as illustrated by termination block 226. Insome embodiments of the invention, when the primary customer first setsup the limits on the dependent credit card and/or at any pointthereafter when the primary customer changes the limits on the dependentcredit card a notification can be sent to the dependent customeridentifying the limits that were set or changed by the primary customer.In some embodiments the dependent customer can be notified of any limitsset or changed by the primary customer through text message, e-mail,telephone call, or any other like communication channel.

In the embodiments where there is more than one dependent customer underthe account of the primary customer, each dependent customer may havetheir own set limit interface 500 and transaction history interface 600.The separate interfaces for each dependent customer allows the primarycustomer to better manage each account because the primary customer canset limits and view the transaction history of each dependent customerindividually based on the needs of each of the individual dependentcustomers.

FIG. 7 provides a process map illustrating a dependent credit cardtransaction process 700, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. As illustrated by block 702 in FIG. 7, a customerfirst tries to make a purchase at a physical store of a merchant orthrough an online store remotely over the Internet using the dependentcredit card. As illustrated by block 704 the dependent credit card isswiped through a card scanner, is manually entered, automaticallypopulated, wirelessly entered, etc. into a merchant system 7 either atthe physical store or remotely through an online store over theInternet. The merchant system 7 communicates with the dependent creditsystem 20 through the network 2, as illustrated by block 706. Asillustrated by decision block 708, the dependent credit system 20identifies if the dependent credit card being used by the customerbelongs to the primary customer or to one of the dependent customers (ifthere is more than one dependent customer) using the credit card numbersor other identifier. The identifier could be printed on the card and/orelectronically captured in a magnetic strip, a radio frequencyidentification tag, etc. that is on or in the card. If the customermaking the purchase is the primary customer and if the card has notreached the maximum balance, then as illustrated by termination block720 the transaction is allowed to proceed. If however, the customertrying to make the purchase is the dependent customer, then asillustrated by block 710 the dependent credit system 20 cross referencesthe merchant and/or product the dependent customer is trying to purchasewith the blocked list of merchants or products in the primary customer'saccount for the particular dependent customer. As previously explained,when the merchant system makes the request to connect to the dependentcredit system 20, or sometime thereafter, identifier information aboutthe merchant and/or product trying to be purchased, such as but notlimited to MCCs, store names, store addresses, store types, UPCs,product names, product types, etc. are received by the dependent creditsystem 20. The dependent credit application 27 utilizes the identifierinformation to determine if the merchant and/or products have beenblocked by the primary customer. As illustrated by decision block 712 ifthe merchant and/or products are not on the blocked list then thetransaction is allowed to proceed (again if the maximum credit limit hasnot been reached). If however, as illustrated by decision block 714, themerchant and/or product is on the blocked list the dependent creditapplication 27 determines if the merchant and/or product is subject toany monetary limits, such as but not limited to an amount that thedependent customer cannot exceed when making a purchase at the merchantand/or for the product. If the purchase being made by the dependentcustomer is not within the monetary limit then the transaction is deniedby the dependent credit application 27. If however, the purchase iswithin the monetary limit then as illustrated by decision block 716, thedependent credit application 27 determines if the purchase is within thetime limits set by the primary customer. For example, the purchase couldbe within the monetary limits for a one-time purchase, but the purchasecould push the dependent customer over the limit for the number ofpurchases made within a month and/or the total amount of all thepurchases made within the month. If the purchase being made by thedependent customer is not within the time limits then the transaction isdenied, as illustrated by termination block 718. If however, thepurchase being made by the dependent customer is within the time limitsthen the transaction is allowed to proceed as illustrated by decisionblock 720.

As previously discussed in the case where the dependent payment deviceis a dependent debit card, the settlement process would work differentlythan as described for the dependent credit card. Therefore, in someembodiments, FIG. 7 would also include a step wherein the dependentdebit application may also check the available balance in the dependentdebit account when the transaction is made, and thus approve or deny thetransaction based on whether or not the available balance can cover thetransaction amount.

Regardless of whether or not the transaction was approved or denied, insome embodiments the transaction is posted and saved to the transactionhistory section, as illustrated in the transaction history interface600, in order to allow the dependent customer and, more importantly, theprimary customer to see the purchases that the dependent customer triedto make using the dependent credit card.

In other embodiments of the invention, the process illustrated anddescribed with respect to FIG. 7 can be applied equally well for anapproved list instead of a blocked list, with some changes. For example,after it is determined that user 9 of the dependent card is thedependent customer, the dependent credit system 20 can cross referencethe merchant and products being purchased with the approved list. If themerchant or product is not on the approved list then the transactionwould terminate. If the merchant or product was on the approved list,then the dependent credit system 20 would determine if the transactionis within any monetary limits and time limits. If not, the transactionwould terminate. However, if the transaction is within the monetarylimits and the time limits then the dependent credit system 20 wouldallow the transaction to proceed.

In some embodiments of the invention, a primary customer can utilize amobile device, which includes a data capture system, to set limits onstores directly at the store location. In one embodiment, the primarycustomer can utilize the mobile device, having a data capture systemcomprising a data capture device and a data capture application, such asbut not limited to a GPS device and application, a scanning device andapplication, an image capture device and application, and/or a wirelesstransmitter device and application. For example, in one embodiment, ifthe primary customer is in a location, such as a store, restaurant, bar,etc., which the primary customer would like to add to the list ofblocked/approved stores, the primary customer can use the mobile deviceto add the store to the blocked/approved list. In some embodiments, theprimary customer can log into his dependent credit account through theonline banking application 17 using a mobile device, such as but notlimited to a PDA. The mobile device may have a GPS device andapplication that can determine the location of the primary customer.Therefore, while the customer is logged into his dependent creditaccount the customer can select a function in the dependent creditaccount that adds the customer's current location to blocked/approvedlist. The dependent credit application 27 may add the storeautomatically or it may display the location to the customer on themobile device for the primary customer's approval. The dependent creditapplication 27 can save the store identified by the GPS application tothe list of blocked/approved stores. In other embodiments, instead ofusing GPS to identify the store location, the primary customer can takean image of the store, store name, address, or other identifier, and animage capture application can use the image or data captured in theimage to identify the store by cross-referencing the image or data ofthe store with information stored by the bank or other servers over thenetwork 2. When the image capture application identifies the store thedependent credit application 27 can add the store to theblocked/approved list automatically or it may display the store on themobile device for the primary customer's approval. In still otherembodiments of the invention the primary customer can use a wirelesstransmitter device and wireless transmitter application in the mobiledevice to capture information about a store identifying the store bytype, name, address, etc. in order to add the store to the a list ofblocked/approved stores in the dependent credit account. The wirelesstransmitter device can receive information about a store from atransmitter, such as but not limited to a RFID tag, located at thestore. When the wireless transmitter application identifies the storethe dependent credit application 27 can add the store to theblocked/approved list automatically or it may display the store on themobile device for the primary customer's approval to add the store tothe blocked/approved list of stores. In still other embodiments of theinvention the primary customer can scan a barcode, or other identifier,using a scanning device and scanning application in the mobile phone, toidentify the store location. The dependent credit application 27 canutilize the scanned information to add the store to the list ofblocked/approved stores.

In some embodiments of the invention, a primary customer can utilize amobile device, which includes a data capture device, to set limits onproducts located directly at the store or at any other location. Forexample, in one embodiment, the primary customer can identify a productthat the primary customer would like to add to the blocked/approvedlist. The primary customer can log into his dependent credit accountthrough the online banking application 17 using a mobile device, such asbut not limited to a PDA. Therefore, while the customer is logged intohis dependent credit account the customer can select a function in thedependent credit account that adds a product to the blocked/approvedlist of products using a scanning device. Thereafter, the primarycustomer can use a scanning device and scanning application in themobile device to capture information on the product, associatedpackaging, or associated marketing materials identifying the product byname, MCC, UPC, or other identifier in order to add the product to alist of blocked/approved products in the dependent credit account. Forexample, in one embodiment the scanning device can be a laser scannerthat captures the barcode UPC of the product and adds the product to theblocked/approved list of products. The dependent credit application 27may add the product automatically or it may display the scanned productto the customer on the mobile device for the primary customer's approvalto add it to the blocked/approved list. In other embodiments of theinvention, while the customer is logged into his dependent creditaccount the customer can select a function in the dependent creditaccount that adds a product to the blocked/approved list of productsusing an image capture device. Thereafter, the primary customer can usean image capture device and image capture application in the mobiledevice to capture information on the product, associated packaging, orassociated marketing materials identifying the product by name, MCC,UPC, or other identifier in order to add the product to the a list ofblocked/approved products in the dependent credit account. The imagecapture application can use image or data obtained from the image,through character recognition software or other software, forcross-referencing with images or data of products store by the bank orother servers over the network 2. When the image capture applicationidentifies the product related to the image captured by the primarycustomer the dependent credit application 27 can add the product to theblocked/approved list automatically or it may display the product on themobile device for the primary customer's approval to add the product tothe blocked/approved list of products. In still other embodiments of theinvention the primary customer can use a wireless transmitter device andwireless transmitter application in the mobile device to captureinformation on a product, associated packaging, or associated marketingmaterials identifying the product by name, MCC, UPC, or other identifierin order to add the product to the a list of blocked/approved productsin the dependent credit account. The wireless transmitter device canreceive information about a product from a transmitter, such as but notlimited to a RFID tag on or near the product. When the wirelesstransmitter application identifies the product the dependent creditapplication 27 can add the product to the blocked/approved listautomatically or it may display the product on the mobile device for theprimary customer's approval to add the product to the blocked/approvedlist of products.

Furthermore, in other embodiments of the invention the primary customercan also set other limits on the stores or products added to theblocked/approved list using the mobile device, such as but not limitedto monetary limits, time limits, etc. as previously explained herein.

In other embodiments of the invention the dependent customer can utilizethe a mobile device, which includes a data capture device and a datacapture application, to check to see if limits have been applied by theprimary customer on a store at which the dependent customer is locatedor on a product in which the dependent customer is interested. Thisembodiment can work in the same or similar way as described with respectto the primary customer setting limits on stores and products using amobile device herein. For example, the dependent customer can utilize amobile device, having a data capture system comprising a data capturedevice and data capture application, such as but not limited to a GPSdevice and application, a scanning device and application, an imagecapture device and application, and/or a wireless transmitter device andapplication. The dependent customer can use the data capture device andapplication to capture information about a store, such as the store MCC,store type, name, address, etc. and/or information about a product, suchas but not limited to UPC, product name, product type, other identifier,etc. and use the information to determine if the primary customer placedany limits on the dependent store or product. In some embodiments, thedependent customer can log into his dependent credit account through theonline banking application 17 using a mobile device, such as but notlimited to a PDA. The data capture device and application captures theinformation about the store and product, as previously discussed, andthe dependent credit application 27 determines if the store or productis on the blocked/approved list of stores and products. Thereafter, thedependent credit application 27 can display to the dependent customerany limits on the store or product through the dependent credit accounton the mobile device. In this way the dependent customer can check if atransaction would be allowed at the store or on the product beforemaking an effort to purchase a product.

In other embodiments of the invention, instead of having to be loggedinto the dependent credit account in order for the dependent creditapplication 27 to display to the user 9 on the mobile device if thestore or product is on the blocked/approved list, the system can work inother ways. For example, after the data capture device capturesinformation about the store or product on the mobile device, the mobiledevice can send the information to the dependent credit application 27,and the dependent credit application 27 thereafter can send anyinformation regarding limits on the store or product to the user 9 onthe mobile device using text messages, e-mail, phone calls, etc.

In some embodiments, when a transaction is being made at the checkout ofa store, at a physical store location or on the user computer system 20,the dependent credit application 27 can display the limits, such as themonetary limit, the time limit, etc., as the limits would be if thecustomer were to make the transaction or not make the transaction. Inthis way, the dependent customer can determine if a transaction that thehe wants to make would go through or if the transaction could preventother transactions from being made in the future because the dependentcustomer would be too close to a limit.

In other embodiments, if the proposed transaction being made or inquiredby the customer is denied, the dependent customer can have the option ofnotifying the primary customer asking to lift the limit on thetransaction. The notification can come through text message, e-mail,phone call, through the dependent credit account, etc. Thereafter, theprimary customer can change the limit permanently, override the limit asa one time exception, or keep the limit the same. An override functionallows the primary customer to allow the dependent customer to makecertain necessary transactions in times of need or emergency situationsthat ordinarily would not be allowed. This feature can be implementedthrough many different types of payment scenarios. For example, in someembodiments the feature could be used if the dependent customer ismaking a purchase at store checkout, in which the purchase would bedenied because it violated a limit. The dependent credit application 27could notify the primary customer before the transaction is denied, toallow the primary customer to override the limit as a one timeexception. In other embodiments, the dependent customer could notify theprimary customer through the online banking application that he wants tomake a purchase that he knows will be denied in order to get approvalfor the transaction before the dependent customer tries to make thepurchase. For example, the dependent customer could notify the primarycustomer of a purchase on a product through the mobile device and theprimary customer could respond by allowing the transaction. Thereafter,the dependent credit application would allow the one time transactionthat does not meet the limits set in the dependent credit account.

In some embodiments of the invention, a reward system can be implementedfor the dependent credit account. In addition to limits set by theprimary customer, the primary customer may want to set spending goalsthat are lower than the limits in order to control the customer'sspending, but leave enough credit available for the dependent customerin case there is an emergency situation. For example, the primarycustomer may set a limit of five-hundred (500) dollars at the bookstorein case the dependent customer needs supplies from the bookstore,however, the primary customer only really wants the dependent customerto spend three-hundred (300) dollars. In some embodiments the primarycustomer can set of goal of three-hundred (300) dollars and a limit offive-hundred (500) dollars on the bookstore. If the dependent customerspends less than the goal for the specified time limit then the limit onanother store or product can be removed, or increased. For example, thedependent customer can now spend one-hundred (100) dollars at anelectronics store. Alternatively, if the dependent customer spends morethan the goal then the limit on another store or product can be set ordecreased. For example, the dependent customer can no longer makepurchases at movie theaters.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention, andthat this invention not be limited to the specific constructions andarrangements shown and described, since various other changes,combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition tothose set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate that various adaptations, modifications, andcombinations of the just described embodiments can be configured withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it isto be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dependent financial transaction system,comprising: a memory device; a communication device; and a processingdevice operatively coupled to the memory device and the communicationdevice, wherein the processing device is configured to executecomputer-readable program code to: receive a request from a primarycustomer to access an online banking application through a mobile devicewith a data capture device; authenticate the primary customer anddisplay the primary customer's accounts through the online bankingapplication, wherein the primary customer's accounts comprise adependent customer account; receive a request from the primary customerto set one or more limits on a store or a product for the dependentcustomer account, in order to control transactions a dependent customeris permitted to make using a dependent payment device at the store orfor the product; wherein the request from the primary customer to setthe one or more limits on the store or the product for the dependentcustomer account is received through the use of the data capture devicein the mobile device; save the one or more limits on the store or theproduct received from the primary customer in the memory device; receivea request from the dependent customer to view the one or more limits onthe store or the product; allow the dependent customer to view the oneor more limits on the store or the product in a limit interface receivea request from a merchant to allow the dependent customer to make atransaction using the dependent payment device; compare the proposedtransaction against the one or more limits stored in the memory device;and approve or deny the transaction the dependent customer is trying tomake based on the comparison of the transaction against the one or morelimits stored in the memory device.
 2. The dependent financialtransaction system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is furtherconfigured to: receive an application for the dependent payment devicefrom the primary customer listing a person as the dependent customer. 3.The dependent financial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the oneor more limits comprise a transaction prevention limit that controls thetransactions made by the dependent customer by preventing the dependentcustomer from making transactions at the store or for the product. 4.The dependent financial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the oneor more limits comprise a transaction allowance limit that controls thetransactions made by the dependent customer by allowing the dependentcustomer to make transactions at the store or for the product.
 5. Thedependent financial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore limits comprise a monetary limit on an amount the dependentcustomer can spend at the store or for the product.
 6. The dependentfinancial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the one or more limitscomprise a time limit on the transaction the dependent customer can makeat the store or for the product.
 7. The dependent financial transactionsystem of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configuredto: receive a request from a merchant to allow the primary customer tomake a second transaction using the dependent payment device; and allowthe primary customer to make the second transaction regardless ofwhether the second transaction meets or does not meet the one or morelimits set on the store or the product.
 8. The dependent financialtransaction system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is furtherconfigured to: receive a request from the dependent customer to viewtransaction history; and allow the dependent customer to view thetransaction history in a transaction history interface.
 9. The dependentfinancial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the processing deviceis further configured to: receive a request from the primary customer toview transaction history; and allow the primary customer to view thetransaction history in a transaction history interface.
 10. Thedependent financial transaction system of claim 1, wherein theprocessing device is further configured to: receive a request from theprimary customer to view the one or more limits on the store or theproduct; and allow the primary customer to view the one or more limitson the store or the product in a limit interface.
 11. The dependentfinancial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the store, and wherein the one or morelimits on the store are assigned using a Merchant Category Code, a storetype, or a store name.
 12. The dependent financial transaction system ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more limits comprise one or more limits onthe product, and wherein the one or more limits on the product areassigned using a Universal Product Code, or a Stock Keeping Unit. 13.The dependent financial transaction system of claim 1, wherein thedependent payment device comprises a credit card.
 14. The dependentfinancial transaction system of claim 1, wherein the dependent paymentdevice comprises a debit card.
 15. The dependent financial transactionsystem of claim 1, wherein the dependent payment device is associatedwith a credit account for which the primary customer is at leastpartially responsible.
 16. The dependent financial transaction system ofclaim 1, wherein the processing device configured to executecomputer-readable program code to receive a request from a primarycustomer to set one or more limits on a store or a product comprisesreceiving the request from a data capture device located in a mobiledevice.
 17. The dependent financial transaction system of claim 1,wherein the processing device is further configured to: notify thedependent customer of the one or more limits when the primary customersets or changes the one or more limits.
 18. The dependent financialtransaction system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is furtherconfigure to: receive information from a data capture device from thedependent customer regarding a store the dependent customer is locatedat or a product that the dependent customer is interested in; determinewhether the store the dependent customer is located at or the productthat the dependent customer is interested in is has an associated limit;and notify the dependent customer when the store the customer is locatedat or the product that the dependent customer is interested in has anassociated limit.
 19. The dependent financial transaction system ofclaim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to: notifythe primary customer when the transaction the dependent customer istrying to make is denied.
 20. A dependent financial transaction method,comprising: receiving, by a processing device, a request from a primarycustomer to access an online banking application through a mobile devicewith a data capture device; authenticating, by the processing device,the primary customer and displaying the primary customer's accountsthrough the online banking application, wherein the primary customer'saccounts comprise a dependent customer account; receiving, by theprocessing device, a request from the primary customer to set one ormore limits on a store or a product for the dependent customer account,in order to control transactions a dependent customer is permitted tomake using a dependent payment device at the store or for the product;wherein the request from the primary customer to set the one or morelimits on the store or the product for the dependent customer account isreceived through the use of the data capture device in the mobiledevice; saving, by the processing device, the one or more limits on thestore or the product received from the primary customer in a memorydevice; receiving, by the processing device, a request from thedependent customer to view the one or more limits on the store or theproduct; and allowing, by the processing device, the dependent customerto view the one or more limits on the store or the product in a limitinterface; receiving, by the processing device, a request from amerchant to allow the dependent customer to make a transaction using thedependent payment device; comparing, by the processing device, theproposed transaction against the one or more limits stored in the memorydevice; and approving or denying, by the processing device, thetransaction the dependent customer is trying to make based on thecomparison of the transaction against the one or more limits stored inthe memory device.
 21. The dependent financial transaction method ofclaim 20, further comprising: receiving an application for the dependentpayment device from the primary customer listing a person as thedependent customer.
 22. The dependent financial transaction method ofclaim 20, wherein the one or more limits comprise a transactionprevention limit that controls the transactions made by the dependentcustomer by preventing the dependent customer from making transactionsat the store or for the product.
 23. The dependent financial transactionmethod of claim 20, wherein the one or more limits comprise atransaction allowance limit that controls the transactions made by thedependent customer by allowing the dependent customer to maketransactions at the store or for the product.
 24. The dependentfinancial transaction method of claim 20, wherein the one or more limitscomprise a monetary limit on an amount the dependent customer can spendat the store or for the product.
 25. The dependent financial transactionmethod of claim 20, wherein the one or more limits comprise a time limiton the transaction the dependent customer can make at the store or forthe product.
 26. The dependent financial transaction method of claim 20,further comprising: receiving a request from a merchant to allow theprimary customer to make a second transaction using the dependentpayment device; and allowing the primary customer to make the secondtransaction regardless of whether the second transaction meets or doesnot meet the one or more limits set on the store or the product.
 27. Thedependent financial transaction method of claim 20, further comprising:receiving a request from the dependent customer to view transactionhistory; and allowing the dependent customer to view the transactionhistory in a transaction history interface.
 28. The dependent financialtransaction method of claim 20, further comprising: receiving a requestfrom the primary customer to view transaction history; and allowing theprimary customer to view the transaction history in a transactionhistory interface.
 29. The dependent financial transaction method ofclaim 20, further comprising: receiving a request from the primarycustomer to view the one or more limits on the store or the product; andallowing the primary customer to view the one or more limits on thestore or the product in a limit interface.
 30. The dependent financialtransaction method of claim 20, wherein the one or more limits compriseone or more limits on the store, and wherein the one or more limits onthe store are assigned using a Merchant Category Code, a store type, ora store name.
 31. The dependent financial transaction method of claim20, wherein the one or more limits comprise one or more limits on theproduct, and wherein the one or more limits on the product are assignedusing a Universal Product Code, or a Stock Keeping Unit.
 32. Thedependent financial transaction method of claim 20, wherein thedependent payment device comprises a credit card.
 33. The dependentfinancial transaction method of claim 20, wherein the dependent paymentdevice comprises a debit card.
 34. The dependent financial transactionmethod of claim 20, wherein the dependent payment device is associatedwith a credit account for which the primary customer is at leastpartially responsible.
 35. The dependent financial transaction method ofclaim 20, wherein receiving a request from a primary customer to set oneor more limits on a store or a product comprises receiving the requestfrom a data capture device located in a mobile device.
 36. The dependentfinancial transaction method of claim 20, further comprising: notifyingthe dependent customer of the one or more limits when the primarycustomer sets or changes the one or more limits, through the use of theprocessor.
 37. The dependent financial transaction method of claim 20,further comprising: notifying the primary customer when the transactionthe dependent customer is trying to make is denied.
 38. The dependentfinancial transition method of claim 20, further comprising: receivinginformation, from a data capture device from the dependent customer,regarding a store the dependent customer is located at or a product thatthe dependent customer is interested in; determining whether the storethe dependent customer is located at or the product that the dependentcustomer is interested in is has an associated limit; and notifying thedependent customer when the store the customer is located at or theproduct that the dependent customer is interested in has an associatedlimit.
 39. A computer program product for a dependent financialtransaction system, the computer program product comprising at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable programcode portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program codeportions comprising: an executable portion configured for receiving arequest from a primary customer to access an online banking applicationthrough a mobile device with a data capture device; an executableportion configured for authenticating the primary customer anddisplaying the primary customer's accounts through the online bankingapplication, wherein the primary customer's accounts comprise adependent customer account; an executable portion configured forreceiving a request from the primary customer to set one or more limitson a store or a product for the dependent customer account, in order tocontrol transactions a dependent customer is permitted to make using adependent payment device at the store or for the product; wherein therequest from the primary customer to set the one or more limits on thestore or the product for the dependent customer account is receivedthrough the use of the data capture device in the mobile device; anexecutable portion configured for saving the one or more limits on thestore or the product received from the primary customer in a memorydevice; an executable portion configured for receiving a request fromthe dependent customer to view the one or more limits on the store orthe product; an executable portion configured for allowing the dependentcustomer to view the one or more limits on the store or the product in alimit interface; an executable portion configured for receiving arequest from a merchant to allow the dependent customer to make atransaction using the dependent payment device; an executable portionconfigured for comparing the proposed transaction against the one ormore limits stored in the memory device; an executable portionconfigured for approving or denying the transaction the dependentcustomer is trying to make based on the comparison of the transactionagainst the one or more limits stored in the memory device.
 40. Thecomputer program product of claim 39, further comprising: an executableportion configured for receiving an application for the dependentpayment device from the primary customer listing a person as thedependent customer.
 41. The computer program product of claim 39,wherein the one or more limits comprise a transaction prevention limitthat controls the transactions made by the dependent customer bypreventing the dependent customer from making transactions at the storeor for the product.
 42. The computer program product of claim 39,wherein the one or more limits comprise a transaction allowance limitthat controls the transactions made by the dependent customer byallowing the dependent customer to make transactions at the store or forthe product.
 43. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein theone or more limits comprise a monetary limit on an amount the dependentcustomer can spend at the store or for the product.
 44. The computerprogram product of claim 39, wherein the one or more limits comprise atime limit on the transaction the dependent customer can make at thestore or for the product.
 45. The computer program product of claim 39,further comprising: an executable portion configured for receiving arequest from a merchant to allow the primary customer to make a secondtransaction using the dependent payment device; and an executableportion configured for allowing the primary customer to make the secondtransaction regardless if the second transaction meets or does not meetthe one or more limits set on the store or the product.
 46. The computerprogram product of claim 39, further comprising: an executable portionconfigured for receiving a request from the dependent customer to viewtransaction history; and an executable portion configured for allowingthe dependent customer to view the transaction history in a transactionhistory interface.
 47. The computer program product of claim 39, furthercomprising: an executable portion configured for receiving a requestfrom the primary customer to view transaction history; and an executableportion configured for allowing the primary customer to view thetransaction history in a transaction history interface.
 48. The computerprogram product of claim 39, further comprising: an executable portionconfigured for receiving a request from the primary customer to view theone or more limits on the store or the product; and an executableportion configured for allowing the primary customer to view the one ormore limits on the store or the product in a limit interface.
 49. Thecomputer program product of claim 39, wherein the one or more limitscomprise one or more limits on the store, and wherein the one or morelimits on the store are assigned using a Merchant Category Code, a storetype, or a store name.
 50. The computer program product of claim 39,wherein the one or more limits comprise one or more limits on theproduct, and wherein the one or more limits on the product are assignedusing a Universal Product Code, or Stock Keeping Unit.
 51. The computerprogram product of claim 39, wherein the dependent payment devicecomprises a credit card.
 52. The computer program product of claim 39,wherein the dependent payment device comprises a debit card.
 53. Thecomputer program product of claim 39, wherein the dependent paymentdevice is associated with a credit account for which the primarycustomer is at least partially responsible.
 54. The computer programproduct of claim 39, wherein the executable portion configured forreceiving a request from a primary customer to set one or more limits ona store or a product comprises receiving the request from a data capturedevice located in a mobile device.
 55. The computer program product ofclaim 39, further comprising: an executable portion configured fornotifying the dependent customer of the one or more limits when theprimary customer sets or changes the one or more limits, through the useof the processor.
 56. The computer program product of claim 39, furthercomprising: an executable portion configured for notifying the primarycustomer when the transaction the dependent customer is trying to makeis denied.
 57. The computer program product of claim 39, furthercomprising: an executable portion configured for receiving information,from a data capture device from the dependent customer, regarding astore the dependent customer is located at or a product that thedependent customer is interested in; an executable portion configuredfor determining whether the store the dependent customer is located ator the product that the dependent customer is interested in is has anassociated limit; and an executable portion configured for notifying thedependent customer when the store the customer is located at or theproduct that the dependent customer is interested in has an associatedlimit.